Interventional Radiology: Arterial
Embolization

Embolization procedures involve the deliberate occlusion (closing off) of a blood vessel via a small tube (catheter) and can be used throughout the body. Embolization is primarily used to treat hemorrhage (bleeding), occlude the blood supply of tumors, or control/diminish blood loss prior to surgery. Depending on the size and permanency of the vascular occlusion needed, different materials and medications may be used during procedures (metal coils, Gelfoam, polyvinyl alcohol, alcohol or other agents). In the treatment of some tumors, chemotherapeutic drugs may also be given directly into the artery.

Embolization procedures may be used to control bleeding from trauma, GI bleeding (the bowel), to shut off blood supply to fibroid tumors in the uterus (uterine fibroid embolization), to decrease blood supply to malignant tumors either as primary treatment (liver chemoembolization) or as therapy prior to surgery.

Because emobolization procedures involve the closing off of blood flow, pain management can be important. Recommended medications will vary between procedures. Pain from embolization procedures used to control GI bleeding may be manageable with Tylenol (acetominophen), though pain from embolization procedures to used to occlude tumor bleeding generally require oral prescriptive medication, intravenous or sedative measures.

Post embolization syndrome (PES) may present symptoms like an infection after an embolization procedure, but is not considered a complication. Fever, increased white blood cell count, discomfort and gas in tissues is not uncommon for up to a week following an embolization procedure. Depending on the type of procedure, patients may receive antibiotics prior to procedure.